Steam-shovel mechanism.



H. H. HARRIS.

STEAM SHOVEL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FlLED AUG. I8, 1915.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.-

H. H. HARRiS.

STEAM SHOVEL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.I8. 1916 Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

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A k/y /igA/y H. H. HARRIS.

STEAM SHOVEL MECHANISM.

APPLICATlON FILED AUGJH, 191a.

1,?6,527. Patented Aug. 20, 191&

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HOLLIS H. HARRIS, 0F LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE THE'W AUTOMATIC SHOVEL COMPANY, OF LORAIN, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STEAM-SHOVEL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1916. Serial No. 115,597.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Hours H. HARRIS, a citizen of the ,United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam-Shovel Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to steam shovels and the like, wherein there is employed a dipper stick which is caused to travel bodily to crowd the dipper into the earth. The present invention is concerned particularly with the mechanism for thus crowding the dipper stick bodily forward or bodily withdrawing it. The novel characteristics of my invention are hereinafter more fully explained and are summarized in the claims.

The drawings disclose my invention embodied in steam shovels of the Thew type. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steam shovel; Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the crowding mechanism of this invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional sideelevation of my crowding mechanism, the view being taken on a plane parallel with Fig. 2, just inside of the nearer trackway of the figure;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of the parts at the top of the dipper stick; Fig. 6 is a sectional rear view, on' the same scale, of the crowding mechanism.

Fig. 1 illustrates a steam shovel having a truck supported platform 1 from which extends a diagonal boom 2, which is supported at its upper end by the usual tie rod 3. As shown, the boom comprises a pair of outwardly facing channel beams held parallel and spaced apart. Between these channel beams of the boom extends a horizontal trackway in which the upper end of the dipper stick rides. This trackway' consists of inwardly facing horizontal channel beams or angle irons secured to the inner faces of the boom members 2. As shown, each side of the trackway consists of a pair of angle bars 4 and 5, facing respectively upward and downward. These bars are secured to the boom members, where they cross them, and at their ends are suitably braced from the boom members. As shown, the

two bars are secured at their forward ends to gusset plates 8, which are connected to the boom by braces 9, 10 and 11. The rear end of the track is braced by downward extending brace bars 15, and forward extendmg bars 16. This method of bracing is shown simply as illustrative. It is to be understood that the track may be carried in any suitable manner by the boom.

20, in Figs. 1 and 2, indicates the dipper, and 21 the dipper stick, which is, at its lower end, suitably secured to the dipper, and at its upper end extends between the two members of the trackway, and is supported by such trackway. As illustrated in the drawlngs, the dipper stick is a tubular metal member having a bifurcated portion formed at its upper end and carrying a transverse pin 23. This pin provides bearings for supporting wheels 25, positioned on the opposite sides of the dipper stick and occupying the channel-shaped tracks mentioned. Suitable liners 27 and 28 are preferably mounted on the upper and lower faces of the trackway, and the Wheels make an easy rolling fit with a space between these liners. The liners may be readily replaced when worn.

The arrangement of the supporting rollers just described, is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. As there shown a member 30 also embraces the pin 23 between the two ears of the dipper stick. This member 30 forms the outer end of a yoke which extends rearwardly from the pin 23 and is provided with outwardly extending flanges 31, above which are vertical parallel shoulders formed on the yoke. A pair of rack bars, indicated at 35, lie within the channel trackways. Each of these rack bars is shown as comprising an upwardly facing angle bar having a flat downwardly facing rack 36, riveted or otherwise secured to the horizontal flange of the angle bar. The angle bar and the racks extend over the horizontal shoulders 31, and are bolted thereto, as indicated at 37, the vertical side of the flange and the inner side of each rack abutting the corresponding vertical shoulder on the yoke member. The racks are provided at their forward ends with outwardly extending shoulders 33, engaging the inner ends of the flanges 31, insuring a positive outward movement of the dipper stick. The rack bars are operated by mechanism, about to be described, to move supporting wheels 25.

the upper end of the dipper stick inwardly or outwardly, the supporting wheels 25 rolling in the channel trackway.

To operate the racks T pr vide the tollowing mechanism: deemed to the frame members 15 are brackets 40 in which is journaled a shaft 411. To this shaft are keyed a pair at spur gears 42, which mesh with the respective racks. The brackets 4L0 extend upwardly above the journal of the shaft 41 and there carry inwardly pro ecting studs e5 on which are mounted rollers 46 which bear against the upper face of the angle bars 35 and thus maintain the rack teeth in engagement with the gears 42. A main driving gear i8 is shown as mounted centrally on the shaft ll. In Fig. 1 this gear is shown as driven through a driving pinion e9, by a steam engine 50, mounted in an inclined position at the heel of the boom. Above the main gear $8 is shown a sheave 55 suitably supported by the frame-work and serving to guide and support the operating cable 54, which leads from suitable winding mechanism, not shown, to the dipper 20, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to prevent the lateral shifting of the rack bars with relation to the drive gears 42, T prefer to construct the teeth 0t these gears and the teeth of the rack in a manner illustrated particularly in Fig. 6. Here it will be noted that on each side of the gears l2 and on each side of each of the racks 35, are flanges i3 and 38 respectively, extending substantially to the pitch line, and the outer portion of the gears and racks (that is substantially the addendum portion) is beveled inwardly at the ends, so as to insure the teeth extending between the flanges; thus, these flanges prevent lateral shitting ot the rack with relation to the gears.

that l have provided a very effective mechanism tor shoving the upper end of the dipper stick in or out. The mechanism is very powerful. It is etlicient and direct, the motion being transmitted by geared members from the engine to the dipper stick. The rollers 46, which track against the upper face of the rack bars. insure these bars being in proper mesh with the driving pinions. The rack bars are strengthened and stiiiened by the angle bar form given to them. The vertical flanges oi the angle bars above the racks, serve to stiiien these bars and also act to prevent outward shifting of either bar, in addition to the ii anges at the sides of the gear teeth. At their outer ends, the rack bars being rigidly secured to the yoke 30, as described, they are positioned with reference to the track by means at the It will be seen that the whole shitting structure is effectively guided to move parallel with the track.

Tt will be seen from the above description amass? Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. The combination of a boom, a trackway arried thereby having a pair of spaced inwardly racing pa allel track members, a dipper stick, supporting members for the dipper stick connected to opposite sides thereof and engaging the two track mem bers, a pair of rack bars connected with the dipper stick, a shaft, a pair of gears on said shaft meshing with the teeth on the two rack bars, a pair of rollers bearing against the rack bars and holding them in engagement with the gears, and a driving device for the shaft engaging and operating the same between the two gears thereon.

The combination of a trackway com posed of a pair of inwardly facing separated parallel track members, a dipper stick extending into the space between the members, a transverse pin carried by the dipper stick, rollers on said pin on the outer sides of the dipper stick occupying the track members, a yoke connected with the dipper stick, two rack bars secured to the yoke, a driving shaft, and two gears thereon-meshing with the rack bars.

The combination of a trackway composed of two separated inwardly facing channels, a dipper s tick extending into the space between such channels, a pair or rollers occupying the channels, a transverse pin extending through ears on the dipper stick and carrying said rollers, a yoke surrounding the pin between the ears and extending laterally behind the dipper stick, a pair of parallel rack bars secured to such lateral extensions of the yoke and extending parallel with the track, and a pair of gears meshing with the rack bars.

i. The combination with a trackway, a dipper stick guided along the same, a pair of rack bars connected with the dipper stick, a shaft, a pair of gears thereon meshing with the rack bars, a central gear on the shaft for rotating it, a pair of inwardly facing studs, brackets rigid with the trackway and carrying said shaft and said studs, and wheels onsaid studs bearing against the rack bars to hold them in engagement with their gears.

5. The combination, with a boom, of a substantially horizontal track carried thereby. a pair of braces adjacent to the rear end of the track, a shaft carried by said braces, a pair of gears on said shaft, a pair of inwardly facing studs carried above said gears,

rollers on said studs, a pair of horizontal raclt bars meshing with the gears and having their upper taces substantially engaged by, said rollers, and a dipper stick guided along the track and connected with said rack bars.

(3. in a steam shovel or similar machine,

the combination of a boom, a substantially isb horizontal trackway carried thereby, means for bracing the front and rear ends of the trackway, said trackway providing two parallel inwardly facing channels, a dipper stick extending into the space between the channels of the trackway, a pin carrying the upper end of the dipper stick, supporting members onsaid pin occupying the trackway, a yoke enga ing the pin and extending to the rear thereoi, a pair of horizontal racks secured to the yoke, a pair of bearing brackets supported adjacent to the rear of the track by the track braces, a shaft journaled in said brackets, an intermediate driving gear on'said shaft, a pairof gears on the shaft on opposite sides of the driving gear meshing with said racks, a pair of stationary studs above the racks, and wheels on said studs adapted to bear against the upper face of the racks.

7. The combination,with a boom, of a trackway carried thereby and composed of said guiding wheels,

two parallel tracks spaced apart, a dipper stick extending into the space between the tracks, supporting members for the dipper stick on opposite sides thereof and located Within the tracks, a pair of rack bars con nected with the dipper stick, said rack bars being arranged with teeth on their under sides, a shaft extending crosswise of the track members, a pair of said shaft and engaging the teeth of the rack bars, a pair of guidingwheels adapted to engage the opposite face of the rack bars, a pair of inwardly facing studs carrying a large driving gear mounted centrally and rigidly on said shaft and extending across the rack bars into the space between said wheels, a pinion mesh ing with said gear, and means for driving the last mentioned pinion.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

HOLLIS H. HARRIS.

gears rigid on 

